Malicious Code Injection in hon_thrush_z3n: A Threat to npm Ecosystem
Summary
MAL-2025-103778: Malicious code in hon_thrush_z3n (npm). Affected versions are not published. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
Check if this vulnerability affects your application
Upload a manifest or SBOM and we'll show whether you're affected, plus every other risky package in the same scan.
No signup required · Results in about 60 seconds
Background
The package 'hon_thrush_z3n' is part of the npm ecosystem, which is widely used for JavaScript package management. This package is associated with the tea.xyz token reward campaign, which has been known to flood the npm registry with malicious packages. These packages typically contain scripts designed to manipulate package metadata and inflate developer reputation scores, posing significant risks to developers and users alike.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in 'hon_thrush_z3n' originates from its association with a malicious campaign that modifies the package.json file to remove private flags, alters version numbers, and generates random package names. This behavior leads to the continuous republishing of variants, polluting the npm registry and potentially compromising the integrity of the ecosystem. The malicious payload can lead to unauthorized access and exploitation of systems relying on this package.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
npm uninstall hon_thrush_z3nIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
Tip — Not sure whether your app is affected? Vulert can check the versions your app actually runs. Scan free →
Workaround
As a temporary workaround, you can avoid using the 'hon_thrush_z3n' package and look for alternative packages that provide similar functionality without the associated risks. Additionally, consider using tools like Vulert to monitor your package dependencies for vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
The 'hon_thrush_z3n' package poses a significant risk due to its malicious code that alters package metadata and floods the npm registry. It is crucial for developers to remove this package and monitor their dependencies to maintain the integrity and security of their applications.
See every vulnerability recorded for hon_thrush_z3n →
FAQ
The 'hon_thrush_z3n' package is an npm package that has been identified as part of a malicious campaign aimed at manipulating package metadata for token rewards.
This vulnerability can lead to unauthorized changes in your application's dependencies, potentially compromising security and functionality.
You should uninstall the package immediately and review your project's dependencies for any other potentially malicious packages.
You can use tools like Vulert, which monitors your package-lock.json for vulnerabilities in real-time without requiring code access or installation.
Yes, you can use the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without any signup.
